Deportivo La Coruna vs Villarreal Preview: Garrido expects big response

Posted Sunday, February 13, 2011 by PA

Villarreal will be determined to bounce back from their shock defeat to Levante when they take on Deportivo La Coruna, with Valencia breathing down their necks in the race for third spot.

Villarreal had claimed 31 from a possible 33 points at El Madrigal heading into their local derby with third-bottom Levante last weekend, but Juan Carlos Garrido's side were left red-faced after slumping to a deserved 1-0 defeat.

That setback was not enough to see Villarreal lose third place, but Valencia - who are unbeaten since early December in La Liga and have won six of their last seven - are now just one point behind the Yellow Submarine.

Garrido said: "We're coming off a loss and we're champing at the bit to face our next opponent.

"The team want to win games because we're having a great season and are on course to qualify for the Champions League. This team has a very strong mentality.

"We're winning a lot of games and that's not easy. We must realise that it's possible to lose, but that the important thing is to lift yourself and face the next game with conviction.

"We're convinced that it's going to be our season."

The good news for Villarreal is that Depor have hit another bad run of form and last weekend's 4-1 defeat at Getafe was their sixth loss in their last seven league and cup games.

During that run Miguel Angel Lotina's side have been dumped out of the Copa del Rey by Almeria and slumped to 17th place in La Liga, one point above the relegation zone.

Despite that poor run of form, Garrido is still expecting a tough test at the Riazor, saying: "Deportivo are a great team with a magnificent coach who I've always admired, and I'm sure they aren't going to make it easy for us."

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